Scottish Executive

Animal Welfare

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to conduct a review of animal welfare legislation similar to that announced by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 January 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have no plans to conduct a separate review, since the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation will include a number of animal welfare bodies that are organised on a GB rather than English or Scottish basis and a number of specifically Scottish bodies, including the SSPCA. The outcome of the consultation is therefore likely to be as relevant to Scotland as to England and Wales. The Executive will be closely involved in the DEFRA review.

Care of Elderly People

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the incidence of falls among the elderly and infirm patients or residents in (a) NHS hospitals and (b) (i) local authority and (ii) independent nursing homes and what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of such falls.

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many falls among elderly and infirm patients in NHS hospitals have been recorded in each NHS board area in each year since 1995.

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many falls among elderly and infirm residents of (a) local authority and (b) independent residential and nursing homes have been recorded in each local authority area since 1995.

Hugh Henry: The number of falls and other accidents experienced by NHS patients and residents in registered care homes is not collected centrally. However, care standards for all residents and patients in all registered care settings are monitored and prevention of accidents and falls promoted.

  The report of the Expert Group on the Healthcare of Older People (published January 2002) contains a section on falls and fracture prevention. It recommends, amongst other things, that all older people should be asked annually if they have fallen in the past year and that NHS boards should ensure the availability of falls assessment services which provide interventions of proven effectiveness, tailored to community or care home settings. We will expect NHS boards to act on these recommendations.

Child Welfare

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be represented at the UN Special Session on Children on 8-10 May 2002.

Cathy Jamieson: A delegation will represent the UK Government at the UN General Assembly's Special Session on Children. It is not expected that this will include members from the Scottish Executive, although it will include two young people, one of them from Scotland.

Child Welfare

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been registered on the Child Protection Register in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Child Protection Registers are maintained by local authorities and hold the details of children who are considered to be at risk of abuse or neglect. The following table shows totals for Scotland for the last five years, for which figures are available:

  


Year


Children registered as at 31 March


Children placed on the register in the year 
  to 31 March




1996


2,687


1,893




1997


2,280


1,782




1998


2,303


1,919




1999


2,361


1,962




2000


2,050


1,890

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to promote awareness of digital television.

Dr Elaine Murray: Broadcasting is a reserved matter and this issue is therefore for UK ministers. The UK Government published the Digital Television Action Plan on 21 December 2001, setting out the action being taken to facilitate the take-up of digital television.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what average data speed is achieved in rural and remote areas.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Telecoms regulation is reserved to the UK Government.

  However, the minimum data speed currently set by European legislation, and the subject of an obligation on BT, is 2.4 kilobits per second.

Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the deadline is for applications for assistance under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001.

Ross Finnie: Applications to the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 had to be submitted by 31 October 2001. Applicants who have been offered a grant will have until 31 March 2002 to decommission their vessel and submit all the relevant paperwork.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22287 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will place the policy guidance it gave to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council regarding increasing the percentage of academic college staff with a recognised teaching qualification in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, detailing the reasons behind its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Letters of 7 and 8 February 2001 and 17 December 2001 to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council were placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre at the time.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22287 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will provide a full explanation of why the Scottish Further Education Funding Council alone is responsible for monitoring progress in regard to the targets for increasing the percentage of academic college staff with a recognised teaching qualification in the further education sector and why it does not collate the information centrally.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council sets the targets, makes supporting funding available and monitors progress towards achievement of the targets. It is therefore appropriate that the council should centrally collate this information.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22288 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether there is a standard teaching qualification for academic staff in further education establishments and what requirement there is for applicants to possess any such qualification prior to their appointment to an academic post in a further education establishment, detailing the reasons for the position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Various courses are available leading to the award of a Teaching Qualification (Further Education), ranging in level from certificate of education to Master's degree. Courses are not standard but each is based on and incorporates the core competencies for further education lecturers specified in the National Guidelines on Provision Leading to the Teaching Qualification (Further Education) and Related Professional Development (April 1997).

  There is no requirement for all academic staff in further education colleges to possess a teaching qualification on appointment. This reflects the diversity of appointments within the sector, where contracts may range from a couple of hours a week to full-time and permanent. Following appointment, all teaching staff are encouraged to pursue programmes of study leading to appropriate qualifications in teaching.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22289 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will provide a full explanation of why it is the responsibility of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council alone to collect statistics relating to further education colleges and why the Executive does not collect such statistics.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The collection of statistics relating to further education colleges is a necessary adjunct to the council’s funding function and its responsibility to secure adequate and efficient further education in Scotland. These functions were transferred to the council on its establishment in 1999.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22289 by Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will provide a full explanation of why it has no plans to collate centrally information on college teaching staff with a physical disability.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22931 today.

  The Scottish Executive does not require such information. It is for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council to decide what statistics it needs to collect in order to carry out its functions.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22289 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, when and how it asked the Scottish Further Education Funding Council "to ensure the promotion of equal opportunities in further education colleges" with regard to the employment of staff with physical disabilities and whether it will place its guidance on this matter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In my letter of 17 December 2001 to the Chair of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council I asked the council to support and ensure the promotion of equal opportunities generally, within colleges. I did not confine my request to the matter of the employment of staff with physical disabilities. My letter was placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre at the time.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22289 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why it looks to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) to take appropriate action in regard to the employment of staff with physical disabilities and what action it has taken to ensure that the SFEFC has acted on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council was established to exercise a wide range of functions on behalf of the Scottish ministers. Although statutory responsibility for employment matters rests with the individual colleges I have asked the council to support the sector and ensure that it is addressing the need to promote equal opportunities and the development of good staff management strategies and practices.

  Scottish Executive officials are in regular dialogue with the council regarding the implementation of all policy guidance.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it undertakes any assessment to ensure that best academic practice is employed at further and higher educational establishments, detailing the reasons behind its response.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council engages HM Inspectorate of Education to assess the quality of academic practice at further education colleges.

  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has a statutory duty to secure that provision is made for assessing the quality of education provided in institutions whose activities they fund or are considering funding.

Health

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much, and by what percentage, each health board budget increased in each of the past five years (a) in total and (b) per capita and what the cumulative increase was over this period.

Malcolm Chisholm: Details are as follows:

  


Health Board


1996-97
Total Budget Increase
(£000)


1996-97
Total Budget Increase
%


1996-97
Per Capita Increase
(£)


1996-97
Per Capita Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


20,297


6.0


51


6.6




Ayrshire & Arran


12,074


4.3


33


4.5




Borders


4,955


5.7


47


5.8




Dumfries & Galloway


8,848


7.3


62


7.6




Fife


10,249


4.0


34


4.7




Forth Valley


3,534


1.7


11


1.5




Grampian


19,974


5.2


40


5.5




Greater Glasgow


25,625


3.2


31


3.6




Highland


7,144


4.1


33


3.9




Lanarkshire


21,907


5.6


40


5.7




Lothian


20,410


3.5


23


3.0




Orkney


660


3.6


37


4.0




Shetland


577


2.8


28


3.2




Tayside


24,902


7.4


68


7.9




Western Isles*


 -1,325


 -3.9


 -39


 -3.3




  * Adjustment to capital charges allocation/payments between 1995-96 and 1996-97 distorts annual changes although this had no impact on the level of disposable income available to the board.

  


Health Board


1997-98
Total Budget Increase
(£000)


1997-98
Total Budget Increase
%


1997-98
Per Capita Increase
(£)


1997-98
Per Capita Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


13,876


3.9


35


4.2




Ayrshire & Arran


19,245


6.6


51


6.6




Borders


4,089


4.5


38


4.4




Dumfries & Galloway


5,212


4.0


37


4.2




Fife


13,406


4.1


40


5.3




Forth Valley


11,582


5.5


39


5.1




Grampian


17,916


4.4


38


5.0




Greater Glasgow


42,708


5.2


52


5.7




Highland


9,667


5.4


47


5.4




Lanarkshire


27,290


6.6


48


6.5




Lothian


35,640


5.9


42


5.3




Orkney


1,352


7.1


66


6.9




Shetland


1,615


7.7


70


7.7




Tayside


9,834


2.7


28


3.0




Western Isles


 2,387


 7.3


 110


 9.7




  


Health Board


1998-99
Total Budget Increase
(£000)


1998-99
Total Budget Increase
%


1998-99
Per Capita Increase
(£)


1998-99
Per Capita Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


16,641


4.5


44


5.1




Ayrshire & Arran


13,615


4.4


39


4.7




Borders


4,482


4.7


41


4.6




Dumfries & Galloway


6,067


4.5


41


4.5




Fife


8,230


3.0


22


2.8




Forth Valley


11,586


5.2


41


5.2




Grampian


16,071


3.8


36


4.4




Greater Glasgow


10,627


1.2


5


0.6




Highland


6,295


3.3


32


3.5




Lanarkshire


18,815


4.3


35


4.4




Lothian


25,605


4.0


31


3.8




Orkney


1,871


9.2


111


10.8




Shetland


1,540


6.9


72


7.4




Tayside


18,241


4.9


53


5.6




Western Isles


1,165


3.3


55


4.4




  


Health Board


1999-2000
Total Budget Increase
(£000)


1999-2000
Total Budget Increase
%


1999-2000
Per Capita Increase
(£)


1999-2000
Per Capita Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


6,867


1.8


19


2.1




Ayrshire & Arran


9,906


3.0


28


3.3




Borders


1,363


1.4


12


1.3




Dumfries & Galloway


6,368


4.5


47


4.9




Fife


8,928


3.1


25


3.0




Forth Valley


8,020


3.4


23


2.8




Grampian


6,318


1.4


12


1.4




Greater Glasgow


33,023


3.8


42


4.4




Highland


450


0.2


1


0.1




Lanarkshire


14,338


3.1


23


2.8




Lothian


11,461


1.7


9


1.1




Orkney**


-1,135


-5.1


-61


-5.3




Shetland


687


2.9


38


3.6




Tayside


5,357


1.4


18


1.8




Western Isles


545


1.5


38


2.9




  ** Adjustment to the method of funding the Scottish Ambulance Service and a reducing in the level of non-recurring bridging finance from 1998-99 to 1999-2000 distorts annual changes although this had no impact on the level of disposable income available to the board.

  


Health Board


2000-01
Total Budget Increase
(£000)


2000-01
Total Budget Increase
%


2000-01
Per Capita Increase
(£)


2000-01
Per Capita Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


32,794


8.3


82


8.9




Ayrshire & Arran


26,538


7.9


74


8.2




Borders


5,133


5.1


44


4.6




Dumfries & Galloway


5,659


3.9


46


4.6




Fife


19,434


6.6


53


6.2




Forth Valley


19,131


7.9


68


7.8




Grampian


33,079


7.4


66


7.8




Greater Glasgow


68,168


7.5


77


7.7




Highland


13,729


7.0


66


7.0




Lanarkshire


36,546


7.7


66


7.8




Lothian


45,981


6.8


53


6.1




Orkney


1,587


7.5


88


8.2




Shetland


2,396


9.7


121


11.2




Tayside


26,797


6.8


77


7.6




Western Isles


3,210


8.7


137


10.2




  


Health Board


1996-97 to 
2000-01
Cumulative Budget Increase
(£000)


1996-97 to 
2000-01
Cumulative Budget Increase
%


1996-97 to 
2000-01
Cumulative Per Capita Increase
(£)


1996-97 to 
2000-01
Cumulative Per Capita Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


90,475


26.9


231


29.7




Ayrshire & Arran


81,378


28.9


226


30.2




Borders


20,022


23.2


182


22.4




Dumfries & Galloway


32,154


26.7


232


28.5




Fife


60,247


23.7


174


24.1




Forth Valley


53,853


26.1


183


24.2




Grampian


93,358


24.1


191


26.3




Greater Glasgow


180,151


22.7


207


23.8




Highland


37,285


21.5


178


21.4




Lanarkshire


118,896


30.4


211


30.2




Lothian


139,097


23.7


159


20.7




Orkney


4,335


23.6


241


26.1




Shetland


6,815


33.6


329


37.5




Tayside


85,131


25.3


243


28.5




Western Isles


5,982


17.5


301


25.5




  Notes:

  1. Total budget includes recurring and non-recurring Hospital and Community Health revenue allocations and demand led Family Health Services expenditure.

  2. Per capita has been calculated using the mid-year estimates of population for each year.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the paediatric services operated by Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust are adequate and whether it has any plans to improve these services.

Malcolm Chisholm: Provision of paediatric services at local level is a matter for the local NHS board in light of local priorities and needs. However, the Child Health Support Group (CHSG) visited the Grampian area in January to review health services for children and to offer advice and support to the NHS board on developing child health services locally. In addition the CHSG Conference "Making Services Work for Children" was held on 27 February and highlighted areas of good practice in health services across the country.

Health

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how residents of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency who do not have access to any private means of transport should travel in order to keep appointments at Wishaw General Hospital.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how residents of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency who do not have access to any private means of transport should travel in order to keep appointments at Monklands Hospital.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency have been treated at Stobhill Hospital in each of the last three years; whether treatment at the hospital will continue to be provided to residents of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in the future, and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lanarkshire NHS Board is required to reimburse (a) Stobhill Hospital (b) North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust or (c) Greater Glasgow NHS Board for treatment of residents of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency, and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid by Lanarkshire NHS Board to (a) Stobhill Hospital, (b) North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust or (c) Greater Glasgow NHS Board for treatment of residents of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for Lanarkshire NHS Board and Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Historic Scotland

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Historic Scotland has set any target timescales for becoming an independent body in terms of direct funding and support from the Executive.

Mike Watson: No. Historic Scotland is part of the Scottish Executive and carries out a wide range of activities on behalf of Scottish ministers, including the provision of policy advice and various statutory duties, which could not be carried out by an independent body. Historic Scotland has increased the proportion of its budget represented by income from 19.4% in 1991-92 (when it was established) to 36.4% in 2000-01, but there is no prospect of its becoming wholly self-sufficient.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice took into account, and upon whose advice he relied, when he considered the provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to be within the legislative competence of the Parliament.

Ross Finnie: The factors which I took into account in reaching my conclusion that the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was within the legislative competence of the Parliament were those set out in section 29 of the Scotland Act 1998.

  For the rest, the policy of the Executive is, as a general rule, not to disclose the source or content of its legal advice. There does not appear to be any good reason to depart from that general policy in this particular case.

Local Government

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of every individual allocation of money it has made to Stirling Council in this financial year and for what purpose each such allocation was made.

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of every individual allocation of money it has made to Clackmannanshire Council in this financial year and for what purpose each such allocation was made.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details can be found in the document Allocations of Central Government Grant to Local Authorities 2001-02 , a copy of which is held in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19464).

Local Government

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of every individual allocation of money it has made to Fife Council in this financial year and for what purpose each such allocation was made.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details can be found in the document Allocations of Central Government Grant to Local Authorities 2001-02 , a copy of which is held in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19464).

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22137 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 February 2002 on the compliance of NHS trusts with guidance from Audit Scotland on the employment of bank and agency nurses, whether all 36 trusts confirmed that they were complying with the guidance.

Malcolm Chisholm: Of the 36 NHSScotland employers mentioned in the Accounts Commission Report Temporary Measures , 35 are NHS trusts and one is a health board. The data in the report is based on pre trust reconfiguration information, the reconfiguration of trusts in April 1999 reduced the number of trusts from 47 to 28 and almost all the trusts mentioned are now no longer in existence.

  Audit Scotland is currently carrying out a review of ward based nursing, with a view to reporting in the autumn 2002. Part of this audit is designed to follow up trust’s implementation of the main recommendations of the Accounts Commission’s earlier report, including expenditure on bank and agency nurses and whether these nurses are managed in line with good practice.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why only 22 trusts provided information to Audit Scotland on the amount spent on bank and agency nursing between 1995-96 and 1997-98.

Malcolm Chisholm: Of the 36 NHSScotland employers mentioned in the Accounts Commission Report, Temporary Measures , 35 are NHS trusts and one is a health board. Audit Scotland have advised the department that, at the time, only 22 of the 36 employers were able to provide expenditure data for the full three year period from their existing information systems.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS trust was unable to provide The Accounts Commission for Scotland with data from its local audit for the year 1997-98 concerning its expenditure on bank and agency nursing staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: Audit Scotland has advised the department that all data in the Accounts Commission's Report on bank and agency nursing staff, entitled Temporary Measures was anonymised. Each NHS employer included in the review received a local report from their external auditor highlighting areas for improvement.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Audit Scotland issued its guidance to NHS trusts on the use of agency nursing staff and whether the 18% increase in the use of agency nursing staff in 1997-98 was consistent with NHS Trusts complying with that guidance.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Accounts Commission for Scotland (now Audit Scotland) published its report entitled Temporary Measures managing bank and agency nursing staff in February 2000. It is not known whether the increase in agency nurses in 1997-98 would have been consistent with the guidance that subsequently published.

  Audit Scotland has advised that they are currently carrying out a review of ward based nursing in NHSScotland and this report is due out later this year. The report will include a follow up on trusts implementation of the main recommendations in Temporary Measures managing bank and agency nurses.

Parliament

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate the Parliament's visit to Aberdeen and to maximise the involvement of the people of the north east.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive’s arrangements for the period when the Parliament is in Aberdeen have not yet been finalised.

Parliamentary Business

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ever provided briefings or information for use by non-Executive members during debates of the Parliament and, if so, (a) when, (b) in respect of which debates and (c) to whom each such briefing was provided.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ever provided briefings or information for use by non-Executive members during meetings of parliamentary committees and, if so, (a) when, (b) in respect of which meetings and (c) to whom each such briefing was provided.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: It is not practicable to provide the information in the form requested. The Scottish Executive publishes and provides a great deal of information which may be used by non-Executive members, for example, briefings on bills to committees of the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Agricultural College

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require the Scottish Agricultural College to reconsider its proposals in regard to Auchincruive.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Agricultural College is currently still developing its proposals. No decisions have been taken and their final plans have yet to be submitted to ministers. When they are we will give them full and careful consideration.

Tourism

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the consultation into the structure of area tourist boards.

Mike Watson: I am currently meeting with a number of area tourist boards to find out the key issues that matter most to them. I will then decide how best to take forward the review.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has prosecuted West of Scotland Water for water pollution arising from any of its water treatment plants.

Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally. The reporting of incidents to the Procurator Fiscal is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the tendering processes used in both stages 1 and 2 of the Loch Katrine Water Project; whether this process was in line with normal public sector tendering rules and procedures, and whether any savings could be made by re-tendering stage 2 of the project using a different tender process.

Ross Finnie: This is a question for West of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  The tendering process for the Katrine Water Project conformed to all public sector tendering rules and procedures.

  An independent audit of the process by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that re-tendering stage 2 of the project would not result in any cost savings and would actually delay project progress, thereby adding to costs and would hamper the successful completion of the project.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the surveys and assessments made concerning the energy consumption and costs of each site considered for the Loch Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a question for West of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is available in Annex D of the Environmental Statement in the Project’s Planning Application, and was also covered in great detail during the public meeting on 26 September 2001.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation with local residents will be undertaken by West of Scotland Water during the construction of the new Milngavie water treatment plant.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22817 (26 February 2002), S1W-22386 (8 February 2002) and S1W-22910 (22 February 2002).

  West of Scotland Water Authority’s Chief Executive adds:

  As Mr McNulty is aware, the Community Forum has now held two meetings at which representatives of the local residents are working with members of the Project Team to help minimise the effects of construction on the local population.

  In addition to this, the Project Team is always willing and is responsive to meeting with concerned individuals or groups. An example of this is a meeting held recently with residents of Craigmillar Avenue who are concerned about the routing of the sewer from the new works.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland has given any opinion concerning the environmental impact of the proposed new Milngavie reservoir; whether it will detail any such opinion, and what consideration it has given and response it has made to any such opinion.

Ross Finnie: The Water Industry Commissioner is responsible for promoting the interests of all customers through the economic regulation of the water industry. He has no role in the consideration of the Environmental Statements for individual projects.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage has given any opinion concerning the environmental impact of the proposed new Milngavie reservoir; whether it will detail any such opinion, and what consideration it has given and response it has made to any such opinion.

Ross Finnie: This is essentially a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. I understand that East Dunbartonshire Council, as planning authority, is presently giving consideration to a planning application and Environmental Statement submitted by the West of Scotland Water Authority for the Katrine Water Project. As a statutory consultee, Scottish Natural Heritage has been given the opportunity to comment on the Environmental Statement.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how effective the consultation by West of Scotland Water with members of the local community, including the Friends of Milngavie Reservoir, has been during the exhibition of the proposals for the Loch Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22910. Given that the Planning Application for the Katrine Water Project is currently under consideration by East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC), it is not appropriate for me or West of Scotland Water Authority to comment either on the content of the replies made by interested parties to EDC, or on the effectiveness of the consultation.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the risk is of contamination (a) of the existing water supply from earthmoving and construction works during the construction stages of the Loch Katrine Water Project and (b) by chemicals/diesel leakage into the water supply when the project is completed.

Ross Finnie: Question (a) is a matter for West of Scotland Water and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  All construction activities for the new Milngavie Water Treatment Works will be carried out in a planned, methodical way with every necessary measure being taken to prevent contamination of the existing water supply and the surrounding environment.

  For question (b) I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22818 on 20 February 2002.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-18874 on 12 October 2001, (a) what the breakdown of costs was for the work undertaken on (i) design and (ii) specialist cladding services which amounted to £854,000 in total and (b) whether all invoices and documents relating to the work undertaken will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Sir David Steel: A full analysis of the payments made to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, for the design and specialist cladding for the MSP block, has been undertaken. The following detailed breakdown can now be provided:

  


Description


Amount




Warehouse facilities & equipment


£24,250.00




Site facilities, equipment & supplier visit costs


£56,623.80




Design & engineering


£352,500.00




Site Management Team


£236,250.00




Transport, communications & site housekeeping


£49,136.50




Overheads & profit


£161,721.00




Sub Total


£880,481.30




Less 3% retention


(£26,414.44)




Total Payments


£854,066.86




  The Parliament has received legal advice that the documents requested should not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre while the SPCB’s rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as they may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-19252 on 14 November 2001, what assurances were provided, by whom and on what dates; whether the documentation regarding these assurances will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre; whether the "recovery programmes" and the "sample delivery dates" will be published, and what work commenced on site in June 2001.

Sir David Steel: The Convenor of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that Flour City Architectural Metals (FCAM) (UK) Ltd's Project Manager provided assurances over design information dates to our Construction Manager, on 17 May 2001. FCAM (UK) Ltd also presented a recovery programme, which anticipated delivery of a window sample on 22 June 2001. FCAM (UK) Ltd started work on site in June 2001 that mainly involved design work, surveys, initiating the procurement of materials and assembled units, and issuing installation method statements. The Parliament has received legal advice that related documentation should not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre while the SPCB’s rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as it may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-19154 on 14 November 2001, on what date Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd was required to submit a performance bond; who was responsible for ensuring that Flour City fulfilled that obligation; what steps were taken to seek performance of that obligation and when any such steps were taken; whether the absence of the performance bond will result in sub-contractors of Flour City not receiving payments of their accounts, and whether the principal contractors have any liability towards these sub-contractors.

Sir David Steel: The Project's construction manager, Bovis Lend Lease Ltd, actively pursued a performance bond from Flour City Architectural Metals (FCAM) (UK) Ltd, during the period April-July 2001, in anticipation of the full Trade Contract being concluded. Once in place however, the Trade Contract required submission of an agreed performance bond by 17 August 2001. When this was not provided the relevant "notice of failure" was issued on 30 August 2001. Shortly after "notice of failure", a meeting was held with FCAM (International) senior management and a further deadline, of 14 September 2001, was set for provision of a performance bond. This deadline was not met and "notice of intention to terminate contract" was duly issued to FCAM (UK) Ltd on 26 September 2001. The performance bond was a requirement of the contract between the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and FCAM (UK) Ltd, and has no bearing on contracts between FCAM (UK) Ltd and its subcontractors. The SPCB has no contractual liability to FCAM (UK) Ltd's subcontractors.

Parliament

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what plans the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has to celebrate the Parliament’s visit to Aberdeen and to maximise the involvement of the people of the north east.

Sir David Steel: The first day of the visit will be marked by an address to the Parliament by Her Majesty The Queen. During the three days that the Parliament will sit in Aberdeen, a full programme of business will be taken which will enable local people to observe proceedings live in the chamber and in adjacent lecture theatres. A number of the Parliament’s committees are also planning activities such as fact-finding visits and civic participation events.

  In addition, our educational visits programme will be located in Aberdeen for the week as will the retail outlet. Special events will be co-ordinated on-site at King’s College, including information and displays about the Holyrood building. A full programme of outreach events is planned involving local partner libraries, other community organisations and educational venues.